Northwest University
Kirkland, Washington · Private · 645 undergraduates · northwestu.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
89%
of 608 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1080 to 1270
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$55,140Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Northwest University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
89% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$55,140
a year in 2027-28, from a $55,140 sticker price
What to do with your 1160
Send your score
Your SAT is at or above the median of freshmen who sent scores (1160).
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- CLT (Classical Learning Test) accepted alongside ACT/SAT
Source: Pre-Admission | Northwest University · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov30Early Action · November 30, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Jan15Early Action · January 15, 2027Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Feb15Priority deadline · February 15, 2027Apply by this date for the best chance at admission and scholarships.
- Aug1Regular Decision · August 1, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
89%
of applicants were admitted: 539 of 608 for fall 2025.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 16% of them sent SAT scores and 4% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1080 to 1270
Reading and Writing 580 to 670
Math 530 to 615
ACT composite 19 to 27
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 16006%
- 1200 to 139932%
- 1000 to 119952%
- 800 to 99910%
- 600 to 7990%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.47
- 4.09%
- 3.75 to 3.9935%
- 3.50 to 3.7415%
- 3.25 to 3.4916%
- 3.00 to 3.247%
- 2.50 to 2.9913%
- Below 2.505%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$55,140
a year
- Tuition$37,440
- Fees$810
- Food and housing$12,580
- Books and supplies$550
- Transportation and other$3,760
Northwest University published $53,024 for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$19,797
- $30,001 to $48,000$19,570
- $48,001 to $75,000$17,184
- $75,001 to $110,000$19,547
- Over $110,000$26,012
Financial aid
78%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$26,394
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
33%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $14,889 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
38 of 38
Earn credit with a score of 3
38 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $3,740Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | |
| Art History | 3 | 3 | |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | SCIE 1103/1 |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 6 | MATH 1203 or 1213 & MATH 1243 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 6 | MATH 1203 or 1213 & MATH 1243 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 11 | MATH 1203 or 1213 & MATH 1243 & MATH 2245 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | SCIE 1203 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 3 | |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | |
| Drawing | 3 | 3 | |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENGL 1013 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENGL 1013 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 4 | SCIE 2403/1 |
| European History | 3 | 3 | |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | LANG 1053 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | LANG 1053 and 1063 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | |
| Latin | 3 | 3 | |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | BUSM 2553 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | BUSM 2553 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 7 | MUSI 1113, 1131, and elective |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSYC 1013 |
| Research | 3 | 3 | |
| Seminar | 3 | 3 | |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | LANG 1013 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | LANG 1013 and 1023 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 3 | |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | MATH 2003 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | PSCI 2503 |
| United States History | 3 | 3 | |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 3 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
67%
Come back for a second year
84%
Typical earnings
$61,237
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Northwest University$87,096
- All colleges$90,887
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 5 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Northwest University. The Northwest University logo is a trademark of the college.